Inexpensive Tax Day toasts

Aimee Fortney is “Not the Perfect Cook.” Retiring at age 31 as a bilingual political consultant, Aimee is now a cookbook author, blogger, recipe developer and inspirational food lover, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband a...

Wines and cocktails on a budget?

Tax day getting you down? Just because your wallet is a bit lighter doesn't mean you can't enjoy a nice glass of wine. Check out these budget-friendly beverages after you pay your dues to Uncle Sam.

So now that we are realizing that we might need to stick to an even tighter budget, that does not mean that the beverages we enjoy have to be "cheap" tasting. In fact, you might find that you enjoy some of these surprising brands below so much that you use the money to buy two, rather than one! Maybe that refund isn't going to be as large as you thought, or worse, you might owe? Here are some great "adult beverages" to enjoy that won't break your bank.

Cava

When it comes to toasting special occasions, your brain goes to bubby, then usually thinks of Champagne, right? But Champagne is not something that coincides with "wines and cocktails on a budget." Cava, however, is! Cava is delicious, easy to find and certainly less expensive than Champagne. Try Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava. At just $12 a bottle, you and your friends can afford two or three bottles! Another delicious cava, and one the girls might enjoy for a girl's night in, (since the reality of having to pay taxes might keep you out of the bars) is Segura Viudas Brut Rose. Pink and bubbly, this is a delightful "treat" for you and your girlfriends to enjoy. At $10 a bottle, it, too, is a treat that will leave no wallet remorse.

Wine

Moving from the bubblies to wines, the boxed wines have come a long, long way. Gone is the shame in buying boxed wines because the flavor, taste and mouthfeel certainly stands up to similar varietals in bottle form. One box of wine is the equivalent of four bottles. Black Box wines, for example, run $20 to $25 per box. If you want something sweet, pick up a Black Box Riesling. Another great option is the Black Box Malbec. Cultivated in the Andes, this Argentinian wine will trick your palate into believing you spent much more for the wine than you did. In fact, at this price, you can commiserate with a larger group of friends because, again, one box is the equivalent of four bottles! If cabernet sauvignon is more your thing, and you want to take a bottle instead of a box, try a bottle of Root: 1. This delicious wine from Chile has a full-bodied mouthfeel, but not a big price tag. This wine runs just $12 a bottle.

The hard stuff

If you need to move over to the hard stuff, try hosting a martini bar! There is a well-known saying among hard liquor drinkers that the cheaper the liquor, the quicker you're sicker. This is not the case, however, with Burnett's Flavored Vodkas. At an average price of $10 a bottle, these vodkas are delicious. The list of flavors will certainly keep you entertained, too, with more than 30 to try. Pick up a bottle of their Pink Lemonade or try the Peach Vodka. Also smooth and delicious is their Whipped Cream and their Coconut flavored vodkas.

When it comes to sticking to a budget with your wine and liquor selections, develop a relationship with the manager or owner of your local liquor store. Ask them to let you know when your favorites (and their favorites) go on sale. Sign up for their emails and ask if they match local competitors' advertised prices! There are great ways to save on your favorites beverages. Between trying new items to see what you like (like boxed wines or a cheaper brand of vodka) to shopping the sale items, you can still have a fun, inexpensive Tax Day toast. Even if you aren't getting a refund and have to pay Uncle Sam!